Nativity Popsicle Stick Craft

This nativity popsicle stick craft is one of those projects that feels meaningful without being complicated. It uses simple dollar store supplies, comes together in about 30 minutes, and creates a finished piece kids are genuinely proud to display.

It works well for home, classrooms, and church groups, especially when you want a hands-on activity that feels calm and intentional during the busy holiday season.

Popsicle stick nativity craft displayed on a pink background with layered text reading “Nativity Popsicle Craft Sticks.”

Materials for This Nativity Popsicle Stick Craft

Before you start, gather your supplies and set up a clear workspace. This project goes more smoothly when everything is within reach, especially once the glue gun is involved.

Most of these supplies are easy to find at the dollar store, and colors can be adjusted based on what you already have.

Materials:

Jumbo craft sticks
Glue gun and glue sticks
Wooden star
Acrylic craft paint (brown, yellow, and a flesh tone of choice)
Craft felt (white, green, blue, and yellow)
Scissors
Paintbrush
Black marker
Pencil
Nativity patterns

Once everything is laid out, you’re ready to build the manger.

How to Make a Nativity Popsicle Stick Craft

This is one of those crafts where it helps to think in three chunks: build the manger, make the people, then glue it all together. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of small wins that stack into something really cute.

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Set everything out on your work surface so you’re not hunting for the felt while holding a hot glue gun like it’s a tiny lava wand.

Craft supplies arranged on a white wood surface including jumbo craft sticks, wooden star shapes, acrylic paint bottles, felt sheets, pipe cleaners, scissors, a black marker, and a hot glue gun.

Step 2: Build the manger base.

Line up eight jumbo craft sticks side by side to form the manger background. Hot glue one jumbo craft stick across the bottom to hold them together.

Jumbo craft sticks arranged vertically into a rectangle shape with a pencil and hot glue gun nearby on a white wood background.

Step 3: Make the roof and trim the manger shape.

Cross two jumbo craft sticks to form the roof. Place them at the top of the manger base and trace the roofline with a pencil. Use scissors to trim the sticks along the traced lines so the manger has a peaked top.

Craft stick rectangle with angled top corners being trimmed using scissors, with cut wood pieces placed above the shape.

Step 4: Attach the roof.

Hot glue the two roof sticks onto the top of the manger base and set aside.

Popsicle stick structure with two angled craft sticks glued at the top, forming a roof shape on a white wood surface.

Step 5: Cut the craft stick pieces for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

Cut one jumbo craft stick to 2 inches for Jesus.

For Mary, cut two jumbo craft sticks to 2.5 inches and secure them together with a small craft stick piece on the back.

For Joseph, cut two jumbo craft sticks to 3 inches and secure them together with a small craft stick piece on the back.

Small cut pieces of craft sticks arranged on a white wood surface next to scissors and a hot glue gun.

Step 6: Paint the manger.

Basecoat the manger with brown acrylic paint. Let it dry, then add a second coat if needed.

Popsicle stick structure painted brown with a paintbrush applying acrylic paint, and a brown paint bottle beside it.

Step 7: Paint the faces.

Paint the top half of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus with a flesh tone acrylic paint. Let dry and add a second coat if needed.

Small craft stick pieces partially painted with flesh tone acrylic paint, with a paint bottle and paintbrush nearby.

Step 8: Trace the felt patterns.

Print and cut out the nativity patterns. Trace Mary’s clothing onto blue felt, Joseph’s clothing onto green felt, and Jesus’ halo onto yellow felt.

Felt rectangles and curved felt pieces laid out with paper templates, pipe cleaners, scissors, and a black marker on a white wood surface.

Step 9: Cut the felt pieces.

Cut out all felt pieces, cutting slightly inside the traced lines for a clean fit. Cut four to five thin strips of white felt for wrapping Jesus.

Felt clothing pieces cut out and separated by color, with pipe cleaners placed beside them on a white wood background.

Step 10: Wrap baby Jesus.

Wrap the white felt strips around the bottom half of Jesus and secure the ends with hot glue.

Craft stick figure wrapped in white felt strips positioned next to scissors and a hot glue gun on a white wood background.

Step 11: Add the felt clothing and halo.

Hot glue the yellow felt halo to the back of Jesus’ head. Attach the felt robes and head coverings to Mary and Joseph using hot glue.

Three small felt-wrapped craft stick figures laid side by side on a white wood surface, with a hot glue gun nearby.

Step 12: Draw the faces.

Use a black marker to draw simple half-circle closed eyes on Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

Close-up of three felt-wrapped craft stick figures with drawn closed eyes, shown on a white wood background with a black marker below them.

Step 13: Paint the star.

Basecoat the wooden star with yellow acrylic paint. Let it dry and add a second coat if needed.

Yellow acrylic paint bottle, painted wooden star, unpainted wooden star shapes in packaging, and a paintbrush arranged on a white wood surface.

Step 14: Assemble the nativity.

Hot glue Mary and Joseph side by side in the center of the manger. Glue Jesus in Mary’s arms. Attach the painted star to the top of the manger with hot glue.

Brown-painted popsicle stick stable with a yellow wooden star attached at the top, with a hot glue gun positioned beside it.

Step 15: Display your finished nativity craft.

Let everything cool and fully set, then place it on a shelf, mantel, windowsill, or craft display area. It also makes a sweet classroom display piece for December.